On This Day Pre-Y2K
Confused by any of the jargon you see below? Check the Y2K Glossary!
December 31, 1998 Permalink
Panic buying will occur. When is the question. What is interesting is that it will probably occur suddenly without any special warning.
When it comes to panic buying, you never know when it will reach critical mass. There can be weeks or months of escalating media reports which might tend to encourage “stockpiling” (Red Cross Speak) / “hoarding” (Pro Govt Extremists Speak) before the sudden mass “shelf stripping”.
When or where it first occurs will always be a mystery. Like the first store that experienced a Cabbage Patch Doll Frenzy.
I have my very own “coal mine canary”. She is not aware of her canary status. She is a nice married woman in her late 30’s, a low level office worker whose life revolves around her close knit family and friends. She is only very casaully aware of major current events.
I have intentionally avoided any discussion with her concerning Y2K. The day she spontaneously mentions Y2K to me is the day that I assume Y2K panic buying will shortly commence.
—flw, comp.software.year-2000, 12/31/98
